On Thursday, April 14, 2016, the LCDC of the Faculty of Law UGM held a Professional Introduction Seminar. This seminar differed from previous professional introduction seminars because it carried the special theme “Law Graduates Pursuing Careers as Officers in the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (POLRI).” The seminar was organized as part of LCDC Faculty of Law UGM’s efforts to introduce career opportunities, particularly within the TNI and POLRI, considering the relatively small number of Faculty of Law UGM alumni who pursue careers as officers in these institutions. Through this event, students were expected to gain inspiration and motivation in determining their future career choices.
The seminar featured two speakers, each representing the TNI and POLRI. Both speakers were alumni of the Faculty of Law UGM who later pursued careers in the TNI and POLRI through the Career Officer or Graduate Officer pathways. The speaker from the TNI was Lieutenant Colonel (Sus) Lidia Rina Dyahtaryani, S.H., M.H., who currently serves as Head of Legal Affairs at Kodikau, while the speaker from POLRI was AKBP Gembong Yudha, S.P., S.H., who currently serves as Head of Sub-Directorate II of the Narcotics Investigation Directorate of the Metro Jaya Regional Police. Before the main session began, the seminar was officially opened by the Vice Dean for Research and Community Service, Dr. Sulastriyono, S.H., M.Si. In his remarks, the Vice Dean encouraged all students attending the seminar to make the most of the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and information regarding professions within the TNI and POLRI. The seminar itself was moderated by Dra. Dani Krisnawati, S.H., M.Hum., who also serves as Head of LCDC Faculty of Law UGM.
During the first session, material was presented by the POLRI speaker, AKBP Gembong Yudha, S.P., S.H. In this session, the speaker explained that crime today has evolved beyond conventional forms and has become increasingly transnational. This development presents a unique challenge for POLRI in dealing with increasingly complex criminal situations. To address these challenges, POLRI requires highly qualified and professional human resources, including police officers with a background in legal education. Thus far, only a very small number of UGM law graduates have successfully pursued careers as officers in POLRI, even though opportunities for law graduates to build careers within the police force remain widely open. Many divisions and units within POLRI require legal expertise. On this occasion, the speaker also discussed career challenges, the joys and hardships of serving as a police officer, career opportunities, opportunities for further education and scholarships, the police recruitment process and related tips, as well as the remuneration system within POLRI.
In the second session, material was presented by the TNI speaker, Lieutenant Colonel (Sus) Lidia Rina Dyahtaryani, S.H., M.H. Similar to POLRI, the TNI also requires capable and professional law graduates in carrying out its functions and duties. Career development for TNI personnel generally includes three aspects: education, position, and rank. These three aspects clearly demonstrate that a career as a TNI officer follows a structured and well-defined development path. Opportunities to pursue careers within the TNI are also extensive. Law graduates may pursue careers and hold positions within TNI organizations and their branches, as well as in institutions outside the TNI structure. Within TNI organizations and units, law graduates may work within the TNI legal community or outside it. An example outside the legal community is a law graduate assigned to special military forces. Beyond the TNI structure, career officers from the TNI may also pursue positions in institutions dealing with national defense, national intelligence, state cryptography, the national resilience institute, the national defense council, the national narcotics agency, and even serve as judges in military courts.
The students’ enthusiasm during the event was evident from the large number of questions raised after the presentations. Many of the questions concerned the technical aspects of the career officer selection process. Several questions also sought clarification regarding issues circulating in society, such as alleged lack of transparency in career officer recruitment, perceived barriers between graduate-source officers and academy-source officers, and gender equality issues within the TNI and POLRI. In response to these negative perceptions, the speakers explained that both the TNI and POLRI have internally implemented numerous reforms, including improvements in the career officer recruitment system. Career advancement, positions, and ranks are no longer determined by the source of an officer’s recruitment, but rather by an individual’s performance and professionalism in carrying out their duties. At the end of the seminar, the speakers agreed that pursuing a career as an officer within the TNI and POLRI requires not only physical and mental preparedness, but most importantly sincerity. Any profession undertaken without sincerity would become a burden and would not produce optimal results. (Editorial Team – Made Prama LCDC)
